Ashikaga Family History

Japanese: meaning ‘place of reeds’ but usually written phonetically 足利 meaning ‘foot’ and ‘advantage’. It is a habitational name from a place in Shimotsuke (now Tochigi prefecture).

Although not a common surname now it is one of the great names in Japanese history the family being descended from the Minamoto clan.

Another Ashikaga family is descended from the Fujiwara clan.